Hello, I have decided to start a blog of my layout. The Algonquin Railway is a shelf layout in the shape of a 'U', which fits around three walls of a 12' x 12' spare bedroom, plus a 2 track staging yard about 5' long.  The layout is set in April 1977.  Why?  Well my favorite era in Canadian Railroading is the 70's, but  I was having trouble picking a season so I just choose my birthday, and got on with building.  Little did I know the challenge of modeling spring in Northern Ontario.  I started the layout 4 yrs ago.  This is my first layout other than a 4x8 sheet of plywood with a Tyco Train set that I got one Christmas when I was about 8 yrs old.  When I started the layout I set 10 goals for myself.  They are as follows.

1. The layout must be DCC controlled.  It was hearing a Sound equipped loco that got me back in the hobby.

2. Since this is my first layout I wanted to keep it small so I could get it to some state of completion.  20' of bench work seamed a reasonable goal.

3.  Get the track up and running first.  Make it bullet proof, this would keep my interest as I could run a train when ever I wanted.

4. Kit bash or scratch build structures so it doesn't look like anyones else layout.

5.  Use photo back drops.

6.  Learn to build and weather rolling stock to match Canadian prototypes.

7.  Give the railway a reason for being.  The railway is on the east side of Algonquin park, as part of the original Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway.  This railway was taken over by CN and since abandoned.  In my reality the Algonquin Railway took control of the trackage east of the Cache Creek trestle in Algonquin Park after it collapsed and CN pulled out.  The Main line goes to Arnprior and interchanges with CP and CN on the Way. The railway with the backing of the Ontario and Qubec Governments, extended a new line into Quebec as far North as Noranda.  This was to haul newly found copper reserves to the large smelters in Noranda, and iron Ore South to the Steel mills in Hamilton via interchange with CN.  Further a large salt mine found just south of the Ottawa river is served by the new line..  The rail way also serves other industries typical of the Northern Ontario such as pulp and paper, lumber, feed and granite quarries.  The shelf layout represents as section of the line from Arnprior to Whitney just east of Algonquin Park.

8.  Figure out how to make it look like April in Northern Ontario.  A big thanks to Mike Confalone for making the Outside the box DVD's.  Northern Ontario looks just like Maine in April except the granite is blacker.  These techniques have helped a ton. 

9. Develop as Herald and paint scheme for the Algonqin physical plant.  Keep purchases to what would have been available on the used marked in Canada, or new orders, to what could have been tacked onto one of CP or CN's orders.  This is typically what the smaller railway company's like the Ontario Northland did.

10.  Involve my Son as much as possible with building the layout. In other words have Fun with Trains!

At this point I can say I have accomplished everything but item #9 and the layout is 50% sceniced. So in the meantime the railroad runs with Leased CN GP7 4802.  Track work is outsourced to CP. So CP work trains make appearances from time to time.

Thanks for looking and more pictures to come.

Ryan M